The Sibillini Great Loop Route - Stage #4

The Sibillini Great Loop Route is a hiking path of about 124 km that covers the entire Sibillini mountain range in Umbria-Marche Apennines. Divided into 9 stages, it is fully signposted and it allows to know, in addition to the variety of landscapes and natural beauty, part of the inestimable cultural and historical heritage that this territory preserves.

The Sibillini Great Loop Route is one of the most beautiful routes in central Italy. Through the nine stages you can circumnavigate the territory of the Sibillini National Park, visiting the history of its small villages and the wilderness of its mountains. The tour embraces the Park clockwise, starting from the village of Visso and returning in the same village after passing through some characteristic places, such as the ancient route of the Kingdom of Naples, the Sanctuary of Macereto, the town of Fiastra and its lake, the Abbey of St. Salvatore, the Museum of the Argenta’s Valleys, the Abbey of St. Vincent and St. Anastasio, Mount Vettore and much more.

On the way you can enjoy the Apennine landscape and admire the wildlife that lives in the Park. The excellent organization of the park, as well as the wide availability of information about the paths, allows a dynamic organization of the tour, giving the chance to change the length depending on your availability of time and energy.

4th STAGE: Monastero - Garulla (18,3 km)

The route goes up on the wide ridge on Mount Sassotetto (1,624 m) and, once crossed the Ragnolo’s Plans, it descends to Garulla cutting the northern slope of Mount Castel Manardo (1,917 m).

Along the way the panorama is always lovely, with views, to the south, overlooking Mount Rotondo and the peaks of Pizzo Tre Vescovi, Mount Priora and Pizzo Berro. To the east the view stretches on the harmonious Piceno’s hills to the Adriatic Sea. Crossing the meadows you can often hear the song of larks, while turning up your look, it is easy to see kestrels that remain almost motionless in midair. The winter environment, particularly suggestive, offers the possibility of ski excursions too.

The mountain pastures of Ragnolo’s Plans offer, in spring, spectacular blooms. In many meadows a periodic mowing for the production of hay is also practiced. This traditional activity helps maintaining a high floristic and landscape diversity.

Points of interest

RAGNOLOS PLANS

Plateau of extraordinary beauty that is located on the heights of the Sibillini Mountains, where all year is possible to admire a breathtaking landscape. From this panoramic terrace the view spans 360 degrees on the surrounding territory, arriving to the Adriatic Sea. The plateau is completely covered with meadows and pastures and it is a must for all botany lovers, because of the many wild varieties of flora that during the spring season cover the fields with beautifully colored coats.

SANCTUARY OF ST. LIBERATO

Completely surrounded by greenery, at the foot of Mount Ragnolo, the Sanctuary was rebuilt by the Franciscans, after the ancient original thirteenth-century hermitage had been abandoned.
During the twentieth century, the monastery has undergone major restorative interventions that led him to lose a large part of its historical connotations. Inside, it houses the relics of St. Liberato and of the blessed Umile and Pacifico.